Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Collection Overview
Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851)...
Show moreLouis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus, Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900, Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.
In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872 in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N. Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography business from home until his death in 1963.
McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department projects, as well as group and individual portraits.
The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street, bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group portraits of clubs, schools, etc.
Revised April, 2010
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Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Vermont National Guard Hangar - Construction (Burlington Morrissey)
- Description
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October 1947. Construction of the Vermont National Guard Hangar in Burlington showing the steel arches. Work by Wright & Morrissey Contractors of Burlington. Photo #2.
- Title
- Vermont National Guard Hangar - Construction (Burlington Morrissey)
- Description
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October 1947. Construction of the Vermont National Guard Hangar in Burlington showing the steel structure and workmen. Work by Wright & Morrissey Contractors of Burlington. Photo #5.
- Title
- Vermont National Guard Hangar - Construction (Burlington Morrissey)
- Description
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October 1947. Construction of the Vermont National Guard Hangar in Burlington showing the steel arches and workmen. Work by Wright & Morrissey Contractors of Burlington
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- Vermont Structural Steel
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Photo of a metal frame structured building with construction workers. 1951.
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- Vermont Structural Steel
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A metal frame work building is being constructed. Piles of supplies seen nearby. 1951.
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- Vermont Structural Steel
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View of the framing of a metal structural building with an automobile (convertible (?) with white wall tires) parked in front. 1951.
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- Vermont Structural Steel
- Description
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View of a large building being constructed with a metal framework. 1951.
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- Vermont Structural Steel
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View of a large metal framework building under construction. A worker can be seen at a wall is being built with blocks of concrete. 1951?
- Title
- Vermont Structural Steel Co. - Construction Sites
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Same site as in mcalB21F08i02 but from a different angle. Steel frame is surrounded by a few dozen wooden beams as well. Several employees are seen here, as well as an old car. Location unknown.
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- Vermont Structural Steel Co. - Construction Sites
- Description
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1951 photo of a construction site, where the steel frame of the building is complete or near completion. Site is unknown but probably downtown Burlington. Several (now vintage) automobiles parked nearby.
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- Vermont Structural Steel Co. - Construction Sites
- Description
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1951 photo of a construction site, with a Vt. Structural Steel frame. Location unknown.
- Title
- Vermont Structural Steel Co. - Construction Sites
- Description
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1951. May be construction of the United States Collector Internal Revenue building at 80 St. Paul Street as the First Baptist Church at 81 St. Paul is seen directly in the back. Location is listed in the 1952 city directory. Also listed in the directory is the USA & USAP Recruiting Station at 82...
Show more1951. May be construction of the United States Collector Internal Revenue building at 80 St. Paul Street as the First Baptist Church at 81 St. Paul is seen directly in the back. Location is listed in the 1952 city directory. Also listed in the directory is the USA & USAP Recruiting Station at 82 St. Paul. Location is currently 76 Corporate Plaza on St. Paul. Numbers 80 and 82 no longer exist. Photo #46.
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- Title
- Vermont Structural Steel Co. - Construction Sites
- Description
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1951. May be construction of the United States Collector Internal Revenue building at 80 St. Paul Street as the First Baptist Church at 81 St. Paul is seen directly in the back. Location is listed in the 1952 city directory. Also listed in the directory is the USA & USAP Recruiting Station at 82...
Show more1951. May be construction of the United States Collector Internal Revenue building at 80 St. Paul Street as the First Baptist Church at 81 St. Paul is seen directly in the back. Location is listed in the 1952 city directory. Also listed in the directory is the USA & USAP Recruiting Station at 82 St. Paul. Location is currently 76 Corporate Plaza on St. Paul. Numbers 80 and 82 no longer exist. See also mcalB02F30i05 edit
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- Title
- Winooski Bridge
- Description
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August 24, 1945. This view was taken from the Burlington end of the bridge looking northerly. Note the asphalt construction crew placing the 2 inch hot plant mix asphalt wearing surface on the westerly half of the bridge while the other half is being used for two way traffic. This wearing surface...
Show moreAugust 24, 1945. This view was taken from the Burlington end of the bridge looking northerly. Note the asphalt construction crew placing the 2 inch hot plant mix asphalt wearing surface on the westerly half of the bridge while the other half is being used for two way traffic. This wearing surface was placed 2 inches in thickness and tapered off on to the approaches at each end. The cost of this work was borne by the City of Winooski and City of Burlington sharing in the proportion of the grand list of each City and the State Highway Department. The State Highway Department paid for 4/5 of the total cost while the other fifth was divided between the two cities.
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- Title
- Winooski Bridge
- Description
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August 24, 1945. This view was taken from the Winooski end of the bridge looking toward Colchester Ave. hill. Note the completed hot plant mix wearing surface on the right half of the bridge (asphalt spreader and roller shown in the distance) while two way traffic is suing the left half of the...
Show moreAugust 24, 1945. This view was taken from the Winooski end of the bridge looking toward Colchester Ave. hill. Note the completed hot plant mix wearing surface on the right half of the bridge (asphalt spreader and roller shown in the distance) while two way traffic is suing the left half of the bridge. The crew in the left foreground is removing the old cold-patch aprons which were temporarily placed near the newly installed steel expansion lanes during the previous season. This wearing surface was placed 2 inches in thickness and tapered off on to the approaches at each end. The cost of this work was borne by the City of Winooski and City of Burlington sharing in the proportion of the grand list of each City and the State Highway Department. The State Highway Department paid for 4/5 of the total cost while the other fifth was divided between the two cities.
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- Title
- Winooski Bridge
- Description
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June 3, 1943. This view shows a close-up of the "A" frame and special attachment for a "rolling pull". In removing the (trolley track) rails on this project without the aid of a cutting torch and with very little damage to the pavement.
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- Winooski Bridge Construction
- Description
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View of the seemingly flimsy wooden supports for a wooden plank walkway during the construction of the Winooski Bridge that had been destroyed in the 1927 flood. New solid concrete bridge supports are seen. In the background is one of the mills (later location of Forest Hills Factory Outlet)
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- Winooski Bridge Construction
- Description
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June 12, 1928. Reconstruction of the Winooski Bridge looking up Colchester Ave on the Burlington side.
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- Winooski Bridge Construction
- Description
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Reconstruction of the Winooski Bridge after the 1927 flood. Reopened 1928. View is from Winooski looking up Colchester Ave on the Burlington side. To the far right no longer is seen the Johnson Grain Co. building as it has been torn down.
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- Winooski Bridge Construction
- Description
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July 5, 1928. Construction workers rebuild the Winooski Bridge that had been destroyed in the 1927 flood. View is looking up Colchester Ave. on the Burlington side.